^228 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



.40 versts in length, and had the form of a F, or Greek G. Before 

 the year 1818, it was separated from the lake of Ladoga by an 

 interval about a verst in width, called Taipale, on which was a 

 sandy hill ; its waters flowed into the river Wuoxa, which united 

 the lakes of Saima and Ladoga. On the 14th May, 1818, the 

 waters of the lake Souwando, increased by the thaw and the tem- 

 pests, overcame the natural dyke at the foot of the lake, threw down 

 the hill of sand, rapidly flowed into the lower lake, carrying' away 

 all the surrounding grounds, and for ever destroyed the barrier which 

 had previously separated them. A chapel and a countryman's 

 house were carried away with the pastures and meadows ; the waters 

 of the lower lake were much disturbed, and the surface covered 

 with ruins. The level of the lake Souwando fell 12^ archines, and 

 its length is now only 15 versts. Its waters no longer flow off" by 

 the Wuoxa, but pass into the lower lake by several falls through a 

 deep canal. The land which has been uncovered by the water is 

 already cultivated, and the beauty of the surrounding country said 

 to be increased. — Bull. Univ., F. x. 133. 



11. Vegetable Torpor observed in the Roots of the Black Mulberry - 

 tree. — A very old mulberry-tree was broken into four quarters by 

 the wind in 1790. Two of the quarters were destroyed, the other 

 two remained growing for a few years, but the last of them was 

 removed in 1802. An elder-tree grew in the place of the mulberry- 

 tree, without doubt from berries which had fallen into the middle 

 of the old trunk of the latter. This elder-tree died in 1826, and 

 at the time of its languishing about a dozen of mulberry shoots 

 started forth to the day. M. Bureau de la Malle ascertained that 

 these did not spring from seeds, but from the roots of the old mul- 

 berry-tree, which had thus lain in the ground in an apparently inac- 

 tive state, for 24 years, to send forth shoots at last. — Ann. de 

 Sciences Nat. ix. 338. 



12. Method of increasing the Odour of Roses. — For this purpose, 

 according to the author of the method, a large onion is to be 

 planted by the side of the rose tree in such a manner that it shall 

 touch the foot of the latter. The roses which will be produced 

 will have an odour much stronger and more agreeable than such 

 as have not been thus treated, and the water distilled from these 

 roses is equally superior to that prepared by means of ordinary 

 rose leaves. — (Ekonom. Neuigk. ; — Bull. Univ. 



13. Pine Apples. — A great improvement may be made in keep- 

 ing pine apples by twisting off their crowns, which are generally 

 suffered to remain and to live upon the fruit till they have sucked 

 out all the goodness. It will be very easy for fruiterers to keep a 

 few crowns by them in water, which can be pegged or stuck on 

 with dough, for show, when the fruit is served up, or artificial ones 



